Cómo criar niños optímístas: 7 pasos para alejar a sus niños de la depresión. (Raising an Optimistic Child: 7 Steps for Preventing Childhood Depression)

Reviewed by Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA -- Críticas, 9/1/2008

Murray, Bob & Alicia Fortinberry.
tr. by NA. Mexico/U.S.: Aguilar: Santillana. 2008. 271p. ISBN 978-970-58-0325-3. pap. $15.99. PARENTING

REVIEWED WITH:
Hijos tiranos o débiles dependientes. El drama del hijo sobreprotegido.
(Child Tyrants or Weak Dependents: The Drama of the Over-Protected Child).
Chávez, Martha Alicia.
Mexico/U.S.: Grijalbo: Random House Mondadori, dist. by RH Spanish. 2008. 157p. ISBN 978-030-739-238-1. pap. $14.95. PARENTING

Cuando las consecuencias no son suficientes.
(When the Consequences Are Not Enough).
De León, Jeffrey.
U.S.: Grupo Nelson. 2008. 237p. ISBN 978-1-60255-098-8. pap. $13.99. PARENTING 

Ámame para que me pueda ir. El arte de acompañar a los hijos en el proceso de convertirse en personas.
(Love me enough so that you can let me go: The Art of Accompanying Children as They Become People)
Soler, Jaume & María Mercè Conangla.
Spain: RBA, dist. by Santillana. 2008. 299p. ISBN 978-84-9867-073-8. pap. $10.99. PARENTING

In Hijos Tiranos, psychologist Chávez explains that it is natural for parents to be in charge because they are older and mature. Allowing children to be in charge and giving in to their whims because they want them to be happy has major consequences. Parents must set limits and teach children to deal with life’s frustrations. Chávez teaches them how to be loving disciplinarians and create harmonious families. Cuando las consequencias has a more spiritual approach. De León, a Christian minister, feels that the erosion of traditional family values leads to children making bad decisions and not caring about the consequences. He advocates a return to these values so that parents will be present for their children and teach them to make good decisions. Cómo criar, the translation of a 2006 English-language book by a clinical psychologist and a therapist, tells parents that resiliency is one of the most important things that a parent can give a child. Their seven-step program tells them how to understand the common causes of depression; spot early signs of depression, even in very young children; enhance their child’s learning and coping skills; foster a good boy image and avoid eating disorders; and deal with ADD/ADHD and difficult behavior without resorting to drugs. Finally, the authors of Ámame para que me pueda ir, founders of the Barcelona Institute for Personal Growth, have written a book telling parents that their main responsibility is to teach their children to be emotionally stable, peaceful, creative, and loving adults. In the process, they will impart problem-solving skills, self-assurance, curiosity, a love of learning, respect, and a zest for living. They also remind parents that they have lives separate from their children and need some personal time and outside interests. With the exception of de Leon’s book, which caters to a Christian audience, all of these books are good selections for public library Spanish-language parenting collections. Buy De Leon’s book if it is appropriate for the community served.